Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has removed Emmerson Mnangagwa from the vice-presidency for displaying "traits of disloyalty", according to the Information Ministry, abruptly removing a favourite to succeed the 93-year-old leader.

Key points:

Mr Mugabe's wife Grace slams the VP as a "coup plotter" and "coward"

The removal of Mr Mnangawa clears the path for a Grace Mugabe presidency

The military response to the dismissal will dictate politics in coming months

It followed a speech by Mr Mugabe at a rally on Saturday where he publicly rebuked his deputy for the first time.

The reaction of the military to Mr Mnangagwa's dismissal could dictate how coming events will unfold.

Some army generals backed Mr Mnangagwa to succeed Mr Mugabe and have publicly said they will not allow someone who did not fight in the 1970s independence war to rule — Ms Mugabe did not fight in that war.

Nonetheless, the fight over the future control of the ruling Zanu-PF party has overshadowed an economic crisis — marked by chronic shortages of cash and spiralling prices of goods — that has raised fears of a return to hyperinflation.

Mr Mnangagwa was seen as Mr Mugabe's protege and had been at his side through five decades of prison, guerrilla war, and then post-liberation government, and questions are being raised about what caused the fallout between the two men.

By firing Mr Mnangagwa, Mr Mugabe has removed one of his last remaining liberation war comrades who have stood by him since independence from Britain in 1980.

Mr Mugabe will likely face a weakened and fractured opposition when he contests next year's elections.

His main rival Morgan Tsvangirai has been in and out of a South African hospital after announcing he had colon cancer in 2016.